How the featured runners fared

Team Berry
Team Berry, which ran to raise awareness and money for the Joshua and Robin Children’s Trust, had 112 runners throughout the marathon (18) half marathon (17) and 5K (77). Peter, Aaron and Willa, whose parents died in a tragic car accident on July 3, attended the race.
“It was more special to run it for Team Berry,” said Mark Strug, who completed the marathon hours after his wife, daughter and son finished the 5K. “So many people were cheering, ‘Go, Team Berry.’
“I just kept thinking of Robin and Josh because they did it every year. I knew they were with us and watching from a better place.”
As of Sunday, Team Berry had raised $6,700 in pledges. The total is expected to increase this week once they account for the donors who promised to match some of the donations.
Strug finished the marathon in 4:16:31. Julia Strug, 9, finished the 5K in 1:01:32, one second ahead of her mother, Polina, and a second behind her brother, Byron, 5. Mark Strug’s older brother Paul, 40, finished the half marathon in 2:38:43. Mark, a co-captain for Team Berry, and Paul grew up with Robin Berry.Ashley Smith
Wearing one of her late grandfather Robert Blaicher’s bowling lapel pins exactly a year after he walked her down the aisle at her wedding, Smith honored him and her late father Robert Chambers by completing the half-marathon in 2:19:16.
Smith, 23, raised $1,250 in pledges for the Young Texans Against Cancer. After her father succumbed to pancreatic cancer when she was nine, Smith’s paternal grandfather served as her father figure before he died of leukemia last July.
“It was kind of surreal to have my mom (Susan Chambers) and (husband) Aaron in my support group and not have my grandpa there,” Smith said. “It was surreal. The race was awesome. The crowd was awesome, but it was a little bittersweet too. My mom was real happy to see my grandpa’s pin.”

Chris Solarz

The Wall Street financial consultant completed his 200th marathon in a time of 2:59:05, only five seconds off his pre-race goal.

Solarz had gone to great scheduling lengths to reach the milestone in Houston because his serious running career, post college cross-country days, began here in 2000, with his fourth marathon. At that race, he was befriended by Humble’s Steve Boone, founder of the 50 States Marathon Club. Solarz has now completed marathons in all but Hawaii.

Boone reached a significant marathon milestone himself Sunday. He finished his 500th – and No. 25 in Houston – in 4:32:14.

Kim Budzik

The dedicated ultramarathoner knocked off her 10th Houston Marathon in 5:16:48. But, as she said, she’s built for distance, not speed and she was a bit tired – having already completed the 26.2-mile course running in the opposite direction during the wee hours of the morning, accompanied by her husband Tim and eight members of Houston’s Runner’s High Club.

The 51-year-old Budzik, a professional assistant for Vinson & Elkins, has done three runs of 100 or more mile since July, when she completed the infamous Badwater 135 from Death Valley, Calif., to the slopes of Mount Whitney.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Tarika Jufar crosses the finish line to win the men's Chevron Houston Marathon. He ran an unofficial 2:06:51, 14 seconds faster than Bekana Daba's time last year.

Tarika Jufar crosses the finish line to win the men's Chevron Houston Marathon. He ran an unofficial 2:06:51, 14 seconds faster than Bekana Daba's time last year.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Alemitu Abera crosses the finish line to win the women's Chevron Houston Marathon. Abera ran an an unofficial 2:23:14, setting the fifth course record by an Ethiopian female in the last six years.

Alemitu Abera crosses the finish line to win the women's Chevron Houston Marathon. Abera ran an an unofficial 2:23:14, setting the fifth course record by an Ethiopian female in the last six years.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Alemitu Abera wears the Ethiopian flag after winning the women's Chevron Houston Marathon. She ran an an unofficial 2:23:14, setting the fifth record by an Ethiopian female in the last six years.

Alemitu Abera wears the Ethiopian flag after winning the women's Chevron Houston Marathon. She ran an an unofficial 2:23:14, setting the fifth record by an Ethiopian female in the last six years.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Simon Ward crosses the finish line of the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Simon Ward crosses the finish line of the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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St. Martin's Episcopal Church Choir members Ashley Brooks, Patrick Perez, Marilyn Tracy and Dawn Mena cheer for marathon runners as they pass the 19th mile marker along Woodway Blvd.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church Choir members Ashley Brooks, Patrick Perez, Marilyn Tracy and Dawn Mena cheer for marathon runners as they pass the 19th mile marker along Woodway Blvd.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Julius Kibet Koskei attempts to reach the elite runners in the lead during the Chevron Houston Marathon as they reach the 5-mile mark.

Julius Kibet Koskei attempts to reach the elite runners in the lead during the Chevron Houston Marathon as they reach the 5-mile mark.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Former President George H. W. Bush shakes hands with runners in front of St. Martin's Episcopal Church near the 19th mile marker along Woodway Blvd.

Former President George H. W. Bush shakes hands with runners in front of St. Martin's Episcopal Church near the 19th mile marker along Woodway Blvd.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Alex Brown, Sophie Brown, 9, and Emily Robertson, 8, greet the mother of the Brown sisters as she runs along Key near the 5-mile mark.

Alex Brown, Sophie Brown, 9, and Emily Robertson, 8, greet the mother of the Brown sisters as she runs along Key near the 5-mile mark.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Kyle Ray participates in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Kyle Ray participates in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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A pack of elite marathon runners battle for the lead in the Chevron Houston Marathon as they reach the 5-mile mark.

A pack of elite marathon runners battle for the lead in the Chevron Houston Marathon as they reach the 5-mile mark.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Victor Hurst wears New York Giants attire during the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Victor Hurst wears New York Giants attire during the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Raul Davila blows kisses in the air after finishing the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Raul Davila blows kisses in the air after finishing the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.